Hard to Love You
Page 22

“I need you to do me one favor to make this wedding of mine even better.”
She raises her eyebrows at. “What’s that?”
“Just let go of your shit with Mason. Just for the rest of the night. For me, please.” I beg.
She stares at me like I just asked her to cut off her right arm. Finally she says, “Fine, but the second you leave, things are going back to the way they were. Let me introduce you to Cole and then we can go and grab another drink. I need to cool off a little after your brother tried to kill me with that song.”
I fling my arms around her tiny little body, “Thanks Hails.”
As we walk out of the bathroom we almost run into someone I don’t recognize. Hailey grabs my arm. “Kenz, I want you to meet Cole.”
So this is Hailey’s date. “Nice to meet you, Cole.”
“Nice to meet you too, and congratulations.” Cole says.
Someone taps me on the arm; I turn and look, Mason. Shit, this is going to be weird. “You may want to go rescue your husband; the twins talked him into getting drinks. You know how they get.”
Oh hell. I look over and sure enough my twin cousins, Nicole and Laura, have Hunter between them with what looks to be about six shots between the three of them.
“Go.” Hailey says when she sees my face.
I hear Mason chuckling as I walk away. Asshole. He could have helped Hunter out there.
I finally steal my husband away from my cousins and we take our seats at the head of the table as dinner is being served. Mason makes his best man speech and Hailey says a few words as well.
After everyone finishes with dinner we make our way back out on the deck. The DJ is playing all the latest hits and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. It’s so good seeing all my family that I don’t get to see often enough. Hailey is dancing all crazy with Ryder snuggled close, giggling away, and poor Cole is trying to keep up. If Hailey wasn’t so hung up on my brother then she and Cole would make a really cute couple. The music changes to I Will Be There by Art Of Dying. I make a bee-line directly to Hailey, wanting to steal a slow song with my little monkey.
I see Mason watching Hailey just off to the side of the bar that’s closest to the dance floor. I reach Hailey and hold my arms out. “You’re stealing my date away?” she whines.
Ryder gets all excited when he sees me, arms and legs flailing all over. “Yes, give me my baby boy.” Ryder practically leaps out of Hailey’s hands.
“I think someone wants to dance with your Aunt Hailey, huh Ryder?” I croon to him while looking over at Mason who smiles at us.
Hailey looks all around, purposely avoiding Mason. “What are you talking about? Cole is right here.” she says dumbfound.
Cole scratches the back of his head, “Uh, I think I’m gonna ask your mom if she wants to dance. She looks a little lonely over there.”
Cole meets my eye and I silently thank him. Then he turns on his heel to go and grab Ms. Taylor.
As soon as Cole turns away Mason quickly walks up to us and whispers, “me.” into Hailey’s ear.
Hailey jumps and her left hand flies to hold her chest, “Damn it, Mase, you scared the hell out of me.”
Mason pulls Hailey close and she wraps her arms around his neck. I spin around with Ryder in my arms and leave them to the dance.
“You gonna help me get them back together right monkey?” I say to Ryder who now has my finger in his mouth.
“His teeth bothering him?” My mom asks as she cuts into our dance.
Mom takes Ryder out of my hands and I slip into Jackson’s arms.
“I didn’t see you standing there.” I tell him.
“I know. I finally saw my opening. You’re a pretty popular girl today.” He says, smiling at me.
“That’s ‘cause I got the dance moves.” I joke with him.
“I’m proud of you, Kenz. I know I don’t tell you that often but I am.” I gaze up at my big brother. My heart skips a beat. Jackson and I haven’t ever really been that close, the age difference affects us. Plus he’s been wrapped up in Chloe for so long, I never bonded with him like I did the twins.
“Thanks Jackson. I’m trying. I’ve got a pretty good teacher as a brother you know.”
“Is that so?”
“Yup.”
We dance for a few more minutes while the song wraps up. Chloe asks to dance with her husband and before I even have a chance to look around for Hunter to take his place, Cooper sweeps me away.
“I don’t think you should have invited so many people.” Cooper says.
“And why’s that? I thought Hunter and I did fairly well. We only invited family and our closest friends. Could you have pictured it if we invited everyone we wanted?”
“I’m just kidding with you, Kenz. I’m just bustin’ your balls ‘cause I keep trying to catch a dance with you.” He laughs.
I push my hair off my shoulder, “What can I say, everyone loves me.”
“We sure do.” He winks at me.
“So what’s up with Mase?” I ask. Cooper goes tense.
We sway past mom and Ryder and I blow my baby boy a kiss.
He’s staring over my shoulder like he’s a million miles away. “I don’t know.”
“Coop …”
“I don’t, Kenz. He’ll talk to us when he’s ready. You know Mase, he has to do everything his way.” Cooper reminds me.
“I know, but I hate that he’s so stubborn.” I complain.
“You should talk.” He chuckles. And the mood changes light again.
I roll my eyes, “Shut up.”
“You look beautiful, Kenz.”
I smile at him; Cooper’s always been the laid back brother. He’s great with the ladies, always has been. I wish him and Jaylinn would get their shit together. Those two are next on my list to figure out.
“Where’s Jaylinn?”
“Dancing with your husband.” He answers with a nod of his head.
The DJ makes an announcement for the father of the bride and the bride to please make our way to the dance floor. Cooper kisses my forehead and heads back to his seat.
The floor is just about empty when I see my dad. I Loved Her First by Heartland starts playing and the tears burn my eyes.
“Hey baby girl.” Dad says while he places a hand on my back and holds my right hand.
“Hey Daddy.” I’m trying to hold the tears back, I really am.
“You look like a princess today.”